DocuWest Film Festival Announces 2013 Line-up of Documentary Films
DocuWest captures two critically-acclaimed films, with
opening night film “Good 'Ol Freda,” and featured film “The Crash Reel.”
Golden, CO, August 12, 2013—After previewing more than 300 submissions, DocuWest Documentary
Festival announces 46 film selections for its 2013 line-up, comprised of 21 feature length, four medium
length and 21 shorts from around the world. Selected documentaries—most of which are premiering in
Colorado for the first time—include 2013 film festival favorites and award-winning films that have
screened at Sundance, SXSW, Hot Docs and Full Frame.
The 2013 DocuWest Documentary Film Festival will be held September 11–15, 2013 in Golden and
Boulder, Colorado. DocuWest screening venues include Foothills Art Center, 809 15th Street, Golden
and the American Mountaineering Center, 710 10th Street, Golden, with additional screenings taking
place in Boulder, at The Dairy Center for the Arts located at 2590 Walnut Street, Boulder.
Tickets are now available, including individual tickets, all-access festival passes, and discounted pricing
for seniors and students. Visit www.docuwestfest.com for the line-up, screening schedule, ticket prices
and purchase options.
The festival is proud to open with the Colorado premiere of Good 'Ol Freda on
Wednesday, September 11 at 7:30 pm at the American Mountaineering Center.
Directed by award winning filmmaker Ryan White, this 2013 film festival darling
tells the story of the Beatles secretary Freda Kelly. As a shy Liverpudlian
teenager, she was asked to work for a local band hoping to make it big. Though
she had no concept of how far they would go, Freda had faith in The Beatles
from the beginning, and The Beatles had faith in her. History notes that The
Beatles were together for 10 years, but Freda worked for them for 11. While
many people came in and out of the band's circle as they grew to international
stardom, Freda remained a staple because of her unfaltering loyalty and
dedication. As the Beatles' devoted secretary and friend, Freda witnessed history unfold along with the
evolution – advances and setbacks, breakthroughs and challenges – of the greatest band in history. In
Good Ol' Freda, she tells her stories for the first time in 50 years. One of few documentaries with the
support of the living Beatles and featuring original Beatles music, the film offers an insider perspective
on the beloved band that changed the world of music.
The Featured documentary The Crash Reel will screen Saturday, September
14 at 7:30 pm at the American Mountaineering Center. Directed by two-time
academy award nominee Lucy Walker, this 2012 SXSW, Hot Docs, and
Seattle International Film Festival award-winning film tells the dramatic story
of one unforgettable athlete, Kevin Pearce; one eye-popping sport,
809 15th Street, Golden, CO 80401 │ 303.279.3922 │ www.foothillsartcenter.org
snowboarding; and one explosive issue, Traumatic Brain Injury. In this comeback story with a difference,
an escalating rivalry between Kevin and his nemesis Shaun White in the run-up to the 2010 Olympics
leaves Shaun on top of the Olympic podium and Kevin in a coma following a training accident in Park
City, Utah. Kevin's tight-knit Vermont family flies to his side and helps him rebuild his life as a brain injury
survivor. But when he insists he wants to return to the sport he still loves, his family intervenes with his
eloquent brother David speaking for all of them when he says, “I just don’t want you to die.” Kevin’s
doctors caution him that even a small blow to the head could be enough to kill him. Will Kevin defy
them and insist on pursuing his passion? With his now impaired skills, what other options does he have?
How much risk is too much?
“This is an avalanche of fantastic documentaries,” said Artistic Director Wade Gardner. “This year, we
are in awe of the subjects, stories, characters, and issues that have been lensed by a wide array of
talented filmmakers. Totally incredible. The universal sense of humanity created by talented
documentarians is a credit to their tenacity, and ability to cover a story that may have taken years to
tell, or will deeply touch us in many ways. Our goal with DocuWest is to create a community where
documentary films can be celebrated, and where documentary filmmakers can gather, and talk
about this powerful art form.”
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About DocuWest
The DocuWest Documentary Film Festival is an annual international film festival dedicated to showing
life as it is. Once a year, DocuWest welcomes filmmakers and film lovers to historic downtown Golden,
Colorado, for a five-day festival of films, discussions, panels and parties. Presented by Foothills Art
Center as part of their annual exhibition schedule, and the Festival operates as a non-profit 501(c)(3),
with support from corporate sponsors and individual donors whose generosity provides the foundation
to make the festival possible. To learn more about DocuWest, visit www.docuwestfest.com.
About Foothills Art Center
Located in Golden, Foothills Art Center (FAC) presents numerous dynamic and exceptional visual arts
exhibitions each year, ranging from traditional to the contemporary, watercolor to sculpture, film and
video to photography, and much more. FAC also offers a unique variety of adult and children’s art
classes, special programs, lectures, workshops and free tours. Our mission is leading and inspiring the
community through art, education and cultural excellence. Open Tuesday–Saturday, 10 am–5 pm;
Sunday 12–5 pm; closed Mondays. To learn more about Foothills Art Center, visit
www.foothillsartcenter.org.
809 15th Street, Golden, CO 80401 │ 303.279.3922 │ www.foothillsartcenter.org